ABOUT ME
SYDNEY O'HAIRE
Born and raised in Vero Beach, Florida, Sydney O’Haire graduated with an MFA in Cinema Directing from the School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University in 2018. Sydney has already directed 10 films including shorts, music videos, documentaries, and live events. These films have been selected, screened, and awarded at multiple film festivals around the world, including BendFilm Festival, SOHO International Film Festival, and Bermuda International Film Festival. Sydney was selected into the second round for Sundance Institute Writer’s Lab, and she has continued to write several award-winning short and feature length films. She is now in the thick of the pre-production process of turning her short film proof-of-concept, “Being Here”, into a feature film titled “Back Me Up”. For a year, Sydney did extensive script coverage for NYC-based Tangerine Entertainment, whose mission is to produce and finance female directed films and television. In addition to being in pre-production with her first feature, Sydney is currently teaching the first ever filmmaking class at Saint Edward’s Upper School in Vero Beach, Florida with a curriculum she developed herself. On March 30, 2020, “Being Here” had its online premiere on Omeleto, which has a subscriber base of over 2 million.
FILMOGRAPHY
BEING HERE
2019, Short Narrative
Unsure if she’s ready to re-enter the real world, Charlie battles her internal demons and finds family in a place she’d least expect: rehab.
POINTE WORK
Post-Production, Short Narrative
A ballerina struggles to make ends meet and grapples with the pains of her past while anxiously awaiting the verdict from her latest audition with the dance company of her dreams.
"QUICKSAND"
Post-Production, Music Video
A music video that takes you from the normal to paranormal, featuring a collaboration with bands Animal Prince (Bay Area) & Bells and Robes (Atlanta).
DRESSED
2017, Short Narrative
After her engagement collapses, Mags’ mourning is interrupted by her little sister, recently out and seeking Mags’ support at a pride march. With every day a reminder of her own failed relationship, Mags must decide what it means to support the people she loves.
THE ROBO QUEENS
Post-Production, Short Documentary
The youngest team in the Nigerian Women’s National Soccer League, The FC Robo Queens, battle in an elimination game to stay in the league for one more year, all while fighting to show their country and people why they deserve their respect and support.
FREELANCE WORK
Co-Producer of Portrait of a Young Man, a feature length narrative film currently in post-production. Florida. 2019.
Co-writer of The Step, a feature length screenplay based on the award-winning novel, "The Step", written by Martha Lemasters. 2019.
Director & Cinematographer for a short documentary and feature proof-of-concept, The Robo Queens. Lagos, Nigeria. 2019.
Photographer for Painted by Pippa, a small business in Chicago. February 2019.
Photographer for Le Piano, a jazz club in Chicago. Photos were featured in USA Today. December 2018.
Script Supervisor for All-American Sex Offender, webseries. Chicago. November 2018.
Script Supervisor for Wheelhouse, webseries. Chicago. October 2018.
Photographer & Commercial Director for West Robins Oyster Co. in Southampton, New York. September 2018.
Script Supervisor for The Haven, webseries. Chicago. 2017-2018.
Script Supervisor for Time Saver, indie short film. Chicago. June 2018.
Script Supervisor for Fuzzy Legs, webseries. Chicago. April 2018.
RESUME
Film Production Teacher // Saint Edward's Upper School // Current // Vero Beach, Florida
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Being the first film production class in the school’s history, the curriculum is entirely of my creation
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This course covers both documentary and narrative filmmaking
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More specifically, the class consists of: an overview of film history, film theory, documentary filmmaking techniques, technical aspects of camera operation and sound, screenwriting and story structure, pre-production, casting, production, directing techniques, editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, and an overview of post-production
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In addition to other projects throughout the term, students submit a capstone narrative or documentary short film to a Florida film festival of their choice
Script Supervisor for “The Carbonaro Effect” // truTV // Fields Entertainment // 2019 // Chicago
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Took detailed notes whenever cameras were rolling
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Coordinated with the director, art department, camera department, and magic team when continuity needed to be addressed
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Kept a log to make sure all subjects on camera were legally able to be a part of the show
Camera Technician // DePaul University's Cinespace Studio Camera Vault // January 2016 - November 2018 // Chicago
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Performed inventory on a wide variety of advanced cameras, including Arri Alexa, Arri Amira, RED Epic-Weapon, and Canon C300 Mk II
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Built, checked, and cleaned cameras and lenses upon rental return
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Coordinated rental orders from students and professors via phone and email
Production Company Intern // Tangerine Entertainment // July 2016 - December 2017 // New York City
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Conducted coverage on feature length scripts, TV pilots, lookbooks, and treatments
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Researched and investigated information for a feature length documentary during its pre-production stages
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Helped develop grant proposals and applications for films in pre and post-production
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Participated in development meetings with company executives
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Watched rough cuts of Tangerine Entertainment productions to give feedback and notes
Master of Fine Arts in Cinema Directing // DePaul University
Chicago, Illinois
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Sustainability Studies // University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
PRESS
"Meet Sydney O'Haire, Filmmaker and Writer"
Featured in VoyageChicago
June 26, 2018
"Growing up, my best friends and I made movies with my Sony camcorder on cassettes. We’d spend entire weekends writing scripts and filming around our small town of Vero Beach, Florida. I took a very roundabout way to get to a career in filmmaking, which is ironic looking back on my childhood."
